Tupelo schools hire Amory superintendent

TUPELO -- Gearl Loden, in his third year of leading the Amory School District, has been hired as superintendent of the Tupelo Public Schools.

The announcement came Tuesday in Tupelo.

Loden replaces interim Superintendent David Meadows. Former Superintendent Randy Shaver requested an early release from his contract last April after an unsettled tenure of less than two years that ended with an unpopular decision to replace a well-liked high school principal.

Loden, a native of Mantachie, will start July 1.

Loden's four-year contract will pay him $182,000 annually.

Before going to Amory, Loden was a principal for four years at South Panola High School.

Loden taught social studies teacher and was a coach at Tupelo High School from 1995 to 1998.